House Bill 508 provides Kentuckians an opportunity to strengthen private property rights and greatly reduce the chance of having homes, farms or businesses confiscated for private economic development.

The bill, which passed the House 95-1, restricts the use of eminent domain to projects involving “public use,” such as schools, roads and libraries. It would prohibit forcibly taking property for subdivisions, industrial parks or commercial projects.

The Supreme Court’s ruling last year in the Kelo case sent shock waves through the nation, by ruling that eminent domain is allowed for private development, unless the practice is outlawed by state legislatures. House Bill 508 provides that protection for citizens of the Commonwealth.

We applaud the strong showing of support by the Kentucky House and urge similar action in the Senate, where the bill now awaits committee action. Eminent domain reform is one of our organization’s highest priorities for the current legislative session.
If you share our concern, please call your state senator and ask that he or she vote for House Bill 508, as passed by the House. Ask them to oppose any move to amend the bill and weaken its protections. Ask them to stand up for stronger property rights for Kentucky families.

-Marshall Coyle, President
Kentucky Farm Bureau

This farm news was published in the March 15, 2006 issue of Farm World.